Vile Evil Hides Under The Veil

"So tell me Eren, do we have a deal? Offer closes soon, you know."

Dianna said and started drinking her brand of elven ale. Eren pondered a bit before asking with a stern face.

"My funds are kind of dried up after buying that plot of land from you. Can't you offer me some more discount?"

Dianna shook her head before replying:

"Remus Auction House is one of the few kingdom-sanctioned sources you can buy such spells from, Eren. But as a result, we have to give a fixed commission per transaction to the kingdom's Treasury department.

A huge cut from those 20K Extols is going to find its way into the kingdom's sleeves. Any less than 20K, and the offer won't be worth it for us."

Eren sighed dramatically and drank from his pitcher after he heard that. He already knew that 20K Extols for a transcendent-grade time element spell was a steal-deal. Dianna chuckled and thought of teasing the butcher some more.

"Well… there's one way you can have another 50% discount sponsored by me."

Eren's eyes lit up after hearing Dianna. He raised his head and looked at the ranger who was also looking at him with her playful gaze.

'That is… if you sleep with me.'

As an added touch, Diana made the offer over a voice channel. She thought a serious and focused guy like Eren would lose his calm. But contrary to her expectations, she saw him maintaining his serious face before answering her in the same manner.

'Listen here, Dianna. If you think I'll sleep with you just to get a 50 percent discount on the deal…'

Eren chugged the contents inside his pitcher whole before moving on.

"Then… you are abso-fucking-lutely right. Just get the spell first and tell me when and where."

Eren smirked and said the last part out loud which caught Dianna off guard. She then burst into a burst of cheerful laughter before responding with only one simple word.

"Deal!"

Eren nodded and playfully took a closer look at Dianna's bust while knowing full well that she was aware of his gaze. Dianna didn't shy away from a bit of play and stretched her shoulders apart before bringing them closer to make her cleavage look more prominent. She was wearing semi-revealing clothes as always. So she didn't have to do much to flaunt her assets.

"Those are some premium goods, Dianna. I'll be waiting for our deal to get finalized. Cheers!"

Eren toasted to Dianna before getting up from his place. He started walking towards the watchtower Orcs had built and somehow survived the battle.

The ranger looked at him and shook her head while smiling. She thought she had the butcher all figured out. But what started as a prank was now turning out to be something she was also looking forward to.

********************

'You want to get cosy with your team's ranger and captain at the same time? How ambitious!'

Eren heard a familiar voice in his head that he hadn't heard for quite some time now as he was walking towards the watchtower manned by Altashia. The voice belonged to Alephee, which surprised him a bit.

'Haha! It's not ambitious if you know what you are doing. It's been a while, Alephee. Did you sleep okay? Hehe!'

Alephee spoke in a plain voice that seemed devoid of any emotions.

'You can say that. My recovery speed increases as you progress further in your ranking journey. And I can see that you've made a lot of progress already. The marks of sins… hm… let's talk about them later on.

For now, tell me about Layla and that pendant. My memories of your progress are fuzzy because of my state at that time. So it would be better if you tell me what happened from the moment I drifted into slumber.'

Eren nodded and slowed down his stride while telling Alephee everything. The latter took some time to process everything before asking Eren another question.

'So where has this Layla gone off to?'

Eren shook his head in denial before answering.

'She wouldn't tell me. She is not obligated to. Her loyalties lie with Eliza after all.

That young witch often wanders off solo and teleports straight into the personal space of this pendant artefact after every few days. She should be back in three or four days considering she left just before I joined this clean-up mission.'

Eren said and reached out his right hand to check it. Every time Layla appears in the storage space of the pendant, he feels a distinct mana pulse that can only be felt by him. This is because the artefact had been bound to him.

'Hm. Okay. What are you thinking about then? Because I don't see you working for Eliza obediently. But you can't also do much considering she has too many things as leverage over you.'

Eren lit up his smoke when Alephee reminded him of how helpless he was when it came to Eliza. These small victories won't matter if he fails to translate them into something that he could use over the Sage if and when things start turning south for him.

'One step at a time, Alphee. Are you with me?'

Alephee asked the only other person besides Reen he could count on for the pinch he was in. The latter chuckled before responding.

'I won't be able to do much directly. But…'

Alephee took a brief pause before pressing on.

'I'll be helpful in other ways. I'm with you, Eren.

I have to be if we want to leave this place together. It's just a Sage we are dealing with. Hehe! Don't worry too much.'

Eren nodded internally before executing his movement spell to take a long jump. He had reached the watchtower by the time Alpehee finished speaking to him.

"What's up, captain?"

Eren asked Altashia after he got up on the watchtower. It was a tiny wooden room with huge windows serving as walls. She was seen patting her demon beast while gazing at the void with blank expressions on her face.

"Hm? What are you doing here, Eren?"

AN: Here's to new beginnings and second chances. Happy Easter guys! Cheers! We have changed the book's cover. So check it out if you haven't already. The character that has blessed VEH's cover with her presence will be revealed in upcoming chapters.

We will have a mass release next weekend. Meanwhile, two more chapters are on their way. It's time for an egg to reappear soon. ;)